New Scientist


Future of Amazon rainforest may hinge on Brazil presidential election

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0000

A general election in Brazil next month is widely seen as a choice between Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro


When will the AMOC collapse? We don’t know, but should still prepare

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Uncertainty about when or even if the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, a vital ocean current, might collapse has been an excuse to ignore the risk, but that actually makes it even more important that we act now


Twisteddoodles on how to make a cell look its very best

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

This week's cartoon from Twisteddoodles


Tom Gauld: ‘Trust me, it’s safe’

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Tom Gauld's weekly cartoon


Researcher finds that cats lie around for a ridiculous amount of time

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Feedback digs into important work done in New Zealand into the movements of cats, which found – to no one's great surprise – that their favourite activity is "lying", followed by "sitting"


This week’s new questions

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Is it faster to jog up stairs or take them two at a time? If the world we observe is just our brain’s interpretation of the electro-chemical signals it receives from our eyes, what is the world actually like?


Why do we feel emotional about fictional characters? part 2

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

This question was posed as part of New Scientist’s Last Word series, in which readers give scientific answers to each other’s questions. Here’s what our readers had to say


Why can’t we cool water as quickly as we can heat it? part 2

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

This question was posed as part of New Scientist’s Last Word series, in which readers give scientific answers to each other’s questions. Here’s what our readers had to say


What is the fastest way to empty a full jug of water?

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

This question was posed as part of New Scientist’s Last Word series, in which readers give scientific answers to each other’s questions. Here’s what our readers had to say


What is an itch, and why can a simple touch calm it?

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

This question was posed as part of New Scientist’s Last Word series, in which readers give scientific answers to each other’s questions. Here’s what our readers had to say